May 29th 2024.
A delegation of Congress leaders, including Randeep Surjewala, Abhishek Singhvi, and Syed Naseer Hussain, met with the Election Commission on Wednesday to express their concerns about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming meditation trip. The Congress alleged that the trip, which is set to take place from May 30, is a violation of the model code of conduct and is an attempt to bypass the silence period restrictions.
According to the opposition party, the Prime Minister's planned meditation programme at Kanyakumari's Dhyan Mandapam is a clear violation of the silence period, which precedes the June 1 voting in his constituency of Varanasi and other seats. They also argued that this trip goes against the Model Code of Conduct and the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
The Congress pointed out that various news agencies had already reported on the trip, which would be widely televised during the 48-hour silence period in Varanasi. They raised concerns about the PM attempting to use the cultural significance of the location to bolster his campaign and increase his vote share, which they believe is a violation of the Representation of the People Act and the Model Code of Conduct.
The party also noted that this trip goes against the orders related to Dos and Don'ts during the election period, which political parties and candidates are required to follow. Abhishek Singhvi, one of the Congress leaders, spoke to reporters after the delegation met with the CEC and other ECs, stating that the PM's decision to begin his meditation on May 30 is a clear violation of the MCC, as the silence period begins on the same day.
Singhvi suggested that the PM could start his meditation after 24-48 hours, which would be from the evening of June 1. However, if he chooses to meditate from May 30, the EC should ensure that it is not broadcasted by the media. Jairam Ramesh, a Congress general secretary, also expressed his hopes that the ECI would take immediate action to prevent the live telecast of the meditation at the Vivekananda Memorial, which is a blatant violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders have announced that the PM will be meditating at the Rock Memorial, a monument dedicated to Swami Vivekananda, after the culmination of the Lok Sabha polls campaign on May 30. They further revealed that he will be meditating from the evening of May 30 to the evening of June 1 at the Dhyan Mandapam, a place where Swami Vivekananda, a spiritual icon admired by Modi, is believed to have had a divine vision about 'Bharat Mata.' PTI
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